The Somerset reporter., 1887-12-14
The PYoeldent,a. Message.

seem to regard 1t as placing the President
squarely with the free trade" or "tarifi
for revenue only" wing Of his party.
The majority Of the papers Of his par
ty stand by the President in this position,
but some strong papers take grounds
against it. The Sun publishes several ed
itorials opposing the recommendations in
the Presidents message. It says there il
a very strong protective feeling in some
states which are essential to democratic
success next year. The Presidents mes
sage, ii says, would lead to the impress
sion that he fayors Mr. Baines nomna-
ton by the republicans. The internal rev.
enue taxes should be reduced instead Of
the tariffs. The Herald prints interviews
with manufacturers of various commod-
tiles in all parts of the country, giving
their views on the Presidents message
Opinions are almost universally opposed
to the carrying out Of the Presidents rec
concentrations
1t is a significant fact that the London
| Times says it will produce profound
sensation in Europe as well as America
and will strengthen the free traders cause
throughout the world. The Times thinks
it sees largely increased sales of the man
ufactured articles of English factories
and workshops.
Congressman Reed, OF this State, very
aptly says:
The message is certainly surprising,
but not surprising because there is any
thing new in it, No one familiar with
the monotonous misstatements OF the
free trade argument needed more than a
word here and there to feel that the Adj
minstration had gone over to the Carlisle
wing with no disguise whatever. 1t will
be impossible for the Democratic party
hereafter to deny its completely in the at
tack on American industries without dis
avowimg the Administration. To attempt
at the close of a long argument in favor
of free trade to declare the free trade
question "irreyelant" would be broad
jest If not in State paper. To give full
er power to his declarations the President
omitted all reference to other things, re-
hitting all the manifold concerns of the
Government in a message to be given in
the future. Perhaps to make sure that
the whole blow shall strike full and fair
at American industries he lauds the inter
nal revenues without exception. No men
ton is made of sugar, tobacco, alcohol
used in the arts, no free raw material
when produced in this country, only free
raw material produced abroad. Surely
the message is surprising one, but 1t
makes the very issue we have desired"
A Tribune reporter Interviewed Mr..
Blaine in Paris, and the result is cabled
to that paper. We make soms clippings
from this report,
"Then do you mean to imply that you
would favor the repeal of the tobacco
tax p
"Certainly; mean just That" said Mr.
Blaine. 81 should urge that it be done
at once even before the Christmas holt
days 1t would in the first place bring
great relief to growers of tobacco all
over the country and would, moreover,
materially lessen the price of the article
to consumers. Tobacco to millions of
men is necessity. The president calls 1t
a luxury, but it is II luxury in no other
sense than tea and coffee are luXures.'
well, then, Mr. Blaine would you adj
wise the repeal of the whskcy tax also 2
No, | would not Other conSdcra-
tons than those of financial administra-
ton are to be taken into account in re-
gard to whiskey. There is a moral side
to it. To cheapen the price of whiskcy
is to increase the cousunptiop enormous
ly. There would be no sense in urging
the reform wrought by high license in
mary states if the national government
neutraliZed the good effect by making
whiskey within reach of every one at 20
cents a gallon. Whiskey would be every
where distilled If the surveillance of file
government were withdrawn by the re-
mission of the tax, and Illicit sales could
not then no nreyented even by n policv ns
riporous and searching AS that with which
Russia pursues the Nihilists. II would de-
strov high license at once in all the states
Whiskey has done n vast deal of harm in
the United States. would try to make
it do some GOOD. | would use the tax to
fortifv our cities on the scaboard. In view
of the nowcrful letter addressed to the
Democratic marty on tn, subject of forti-
6cation Inv the late Samuel i Tildcn in
1855. | am amazed that no attention has
heen maid TO the subject by the Demo-
cratic administration. Never before in
the history of the world has any govern
mert allowed great cities ON the scaboard
like philadelnhio New York. Boston. Bnl-
timore. New Orleans and San Francisco
to remain defenceless."
Mr.. blaine said that in his Judgment
the whisky tax should be so modified as
To hermit all who use alcohol in the arts
or i'm mechanical pursuits to have il free
of tax. In nil such cases the tax could
he omitted without danger of fraud. lust
Ms now the tax ON spirits exported is re-
mitted
.Hesides vonr ruppcd and sweepinp on
position to the presidents recommends
lion have Won any further specific obiec-
tion ;"
eyes " answered Mr.. Blaine, 81 should
seriousiv object tn the repeal of the duty
ON Wool. TO repeal that would work
0rrat iniusticc TO many interests and
would Seriously DISCOURAGE what we
should earnestly encourage. namely, the
sheen culture among farmers throughout
the Union. TO break down wool growing
and he denendent on foreipn countries for
80,